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UNITED STATES DAVID F. GRIFFITIIS,

PATENT GEEICE.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PAC KING-CAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,808, dated October 31, 1893.

Application filed December 19, 1 892./Serial No. 455,650. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, DAVID F. GRIEE1THs,of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Packing-Cases, of which the 1following is a full, clear, and exact descriplon.

My invention relates to an improvement in packing cases, and has for its object to provide a case especially adapted for the transportation of articles sent by freight or express, and the object of the invention is to construct the box in such manner that it will combine lightness with strength and durability, and wherein the boxmay be economically manufactured.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth up of an entire panel, an entire panel consti-- y tutes each side, and the bottom also is made up of a single panel. Thus, without including the top, the box may be said to consist of ve panels, each being independent of thev others; but if in practice it is found desirable two or more panels may be employed in the construction of the ends, sides or bottom, especially when the box is very large; each panel, however, is made in the same manner and comprises in part a marginal skeleton frame 10. Each skeleton frame 10, consists of a bottom and top rail designated as a and a', and two side rails designated as b and b', the side rails being thicker than the top and bottom rails; and the frame is so put together that the side and end rails are flush upon their outer faces, but the inner faces of the side rails extend beyond the corresponding surfaces of the top and bottom rails as shown best in Fig. 2. In addition to the frame the panel consists of a single sheet of veneer, designated as 11 in the drawings, and this sheet of veneer extends from the inner edge of one siderail of the panel to the corresponding edge of the other side rail, the thickness of the veneer being vpreferably made to c orrespond to the depth of the portion of the side rails projected beyond the top and bottom rails of the frame. The veneer is secured to the top and bottom rails of a frame by means of nails 12, tacks, screws, or equivalent fastening devices, and the veneer11,is strengthened and secured to the side rails of a panel by wires 13, which wires are secured at their ends in any approved manner to the side rails of the frame, and the said wires extend laterally or horizontally across the face of the veneer, and are interlaced through apertures 14, made in the veneer at suitable intervals apart.

Any desired number of wire strands may be employed to brace and strengthen the veneer of a panel, and the apertures 14 through which the Wires are passed are arranged preferably in vertical as well as horizontal rows, but in passing the wires across the panel the wires are arranged to break joints, as is clearly shown in the drawings.

In making up abox from panels constructed as above set forth, the panels are connected by means of nails, screws or any equivalent fastening devices, and if in practice it is found desirable the fastening devices employed may be removable in order that the box may be returned to the shipper disconnected, the various panels being placed one upon the other when so sent.

A box constructed as above set forth is exceedingly light yet very strong, and may be economically and expeditiously manufactured, as but a single piece of veneer maybe employed in the construction of each panel, but the veneer is so stayed by the wires passing or interlaced through it as to enable a very long piece of veneer to be used without the slightest danger of the veneer yielding at any point against ordinary pressure, and furthermore the inner faces of the box are perfectly straight and likewise smooth.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- IOO l. In the construction of boxes, a panel consisting of a skeleton frame, a single sheet of Veneer, apertured and secured to the frame, and Wires laced through the apertures of the veneer and having their ends secured to the frame, substantially as described.

2. In the construction of boxes, a panel consisting of a skeleton frame, a single sheet of veneer secured to the frame and provided with apertures arranged in vertical and horizontal rows, and Wires laced through the apertures to break joints and having their ends secured to the frame, substantially as described.

3. In the construction of boxes, a panel comprising a skeleton frame, two members of which extend inward beyond the other two members, and a sin gie piece of veneerseoured to the frame, and of a thickness equal to the distance the two members project beyond the other two, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In the construction of boxes, a panel, the same consisting of askeleton frame, two members of which are thicker than the other members, the members upon one face of the frame being fiush, a veneer located between the projected portions of the thicker members and secured to the thinner members, and Wire strands passed through apertures produced in the veneer, said Wire strands being attached at their extremities to the thicker members of the frame, as and for the purpose specited.

DAVID F. GRIFFITIAIS.

Witnessesz J. FRED. ACKER, C. SEDGWICK. 

